It's a long time wi nuh have no good time!
Producer and engineer Collin “Bulby” York has been making music sound better for more than thirty (30) years.
His list of credits reads like a who’s who of Pop music: No Doubt, Rihanna, Britney Spears, Madonna. It’s Reggae and Dancehall that the Kingston, Jamaica native is best known for, though. As one of Jamaica’s most in-demand studio men, he has put his touch on signature records by Sean Paul, Bounty Killer and Beenie Man, to name a few.
Bulby got his introduction to music making as a youth, when he started following his uncle, Firehouse Crew drummer George “Dusty” Miller, to the Waterhouse, Kingston studio of dubmaster King Tubby. Young Bulby was soon learning the ropes of recording from the Godfather of dub music, and one of the most influential audio engineers of all-time. “I didn't realize he was such a legend, I just knew he was way ahead of his time,” Bulby says of Tubby. “He was building a top-of-the-line studio with a drum booth in the ceiling — I was there helping soldering and rewire stuff.”
After graduating from Kingston’s Dunoon Technical High, he got a summer job at Jamaica’s then brand-new Mixing Lab Studio. His first session was with Junior Reid, the legendary singer of Black Uhuru and “One Blood” fame. “He was producing a rapper from London who was on the label he was signed to,” Bulby recalls of Reid. “We recorded a whole album and, from that session, my name started getting around and I started getting more producers requesting me.”
In 1992, he began producing his own records when his uncle Dusty formed C & G Music, working with Dancehall artists like Daddy Screw. In 1993, Bulby launched his own label, Fat Eyes, with Lynford “Fatta” Marshall. Fat Eyes struck instant musical gold with Bulby’s Hot Wax Riddim, an inventive Dancehall production which spawned Bounty Killer’s “Suspense" and Beenie Man’s "Memories.” Its influence can still be felt, as “Memories” was recently sampled by Kanye West for “I’m In It,” a standout track from 2013’s critically-acclaimed Yeezus album. Other key Fat Eyes releases produced by Bulby include “Want You Back” by Singing Melody, and Capleton’s “Pure Sodom.”
Meanwhile, Bulby continued to mix records for other top Jamaican producers like Winston Riley and Steely and Clevie, as well as Sly and Robbie, who tapped him to engineer their original Reggae productions as well as remixes for international artists like Chaka Khan, Cyndi Lauper and Sinead O’Connor. As Dancehall sounds went mainstream in the early 2000s, Bulby was right in the mix, engineering tracks for No Doubt’s double-platinum Rocksteady album, as well as Sean Paul’s era-defining Dancehall classic, Dutty Rock. As his reputation grew internationally, he also began to travel as a live engineer with the likes of Michael Franti and Spearhead, among others.
After years of bringing other people’s projects to life, Bulby now has a masterpiece he can call his own in Epic & Ting. His skills as a sonic architect par excellence with his ear for talent, results in an LP of truly epic proportions. The album features a mixture of Reggae staples (Sizzla, Maxi Priest) and up-and-coming talents (Lennox, Ch’an) from across the Caribbean. "The concept is me being the artiste/producer who makes the beats and gets the best songs with talented artistes from the Caribbean,” he told the Jamaica Observer. “It is similar to a David Guetta or a Calvin Harris project."
Fans of Reggae music will be treated to some truly epic collaborations. “Anything Goes” teams Dancehall warlord Bounty Killer with the King of Jamaican Lovers Rock, Beres Hammond. On “Whom Shall I Fear,” he pairs Dancehall boss (and Kanye and Kendrick Lamar collaborator) Agent Sasco/Assassin with some lost vocals from Tenor Saw, the late icon known for “Ring the Alarm.” and “Soul Almighty” makes the unexpected connection between up-and-coming conscious crooner Jesse Royal and Lee “Scratch” Perry.“This album has a lot of different vibes on it,” Bulby explains. “I want people to put this album on and get the urge to go to work or school with a positive attitude. It can be played while you're working out in the gym, or just driving to the grocery store. I think it’s the perfect vibes builder.”
Master Blaster, the follow-up album to Bulby's 2016 Epic & Ting, leads off with the album's first single, a modern take on Tenor Saw's classic "Lots of Signs" featuring superstars Christopher Martin and Beenie Man, as well as a signature Fuzzy Jones sample. "Dance With Me" delves into Afrobeat territory, as Nigerian singer (and Spearhead drummer) Manas Itiene trades vocals with actress/singer/songwriter Cherine Anderson. "Freedom", the most recently released single, features the living legend Beres Hammond pleading for mankind's most basic human right on the song's chorus. He is joined by I-Three's alumnus Marcia Griffiths, Polynesian Reggae star J Boog, and the ever-formidable Lutan Fyah. "Hands Up!" is a militaristic Hip Hop-flavored account of the war in the streets between police and the people, as told by Hip Hop/Reggae/Soul fusion group CornaStonaz. The Dancehall blazer "Katch-A-Fire" features singer Anthony Red Rose and deejay Lexxus going verse for verse. "Can't Dweet Like We" finds worl' boss Vybz Kartel slicing and dicing the riddim with his trademark lyrical daggers, while D.C-based Ethiopian rapper LoLa Monroe serves up some heat of her own. Rounding out the song is singer-songwriter Candy Gloster, who lends her vocals for the catchy chorus. The album's only previously released record, "Cherry Oh Baby", features Busy Signal and Patrice Roberts delivering a lively version of Eric Donaldson's celebrated tune that has been covered by the likes of the Rolling Stones and UB40. Bulby recruited Chevaughn to voice "Music and Weed", an addictive sing-along that the producer picked up from the C2W (Caribbean 2 World) songwriting camp in Jamaica. "Never Bow" is a triumphant Nyabinghi chant that features the late great Joseph "Culture" Hill and Leego backed by Grammy-nominated band Raging Fyah to add some musical texture. Next up is "Shoot the Moon", another Dancehall track that features the girl x boy combo of Bajan singer Ch'an and Dancehall stalwart Mad Cobra. Closing out the album is the unexpected "Kundalini" which features a dramatic piano-driven music bed to a spoken word poem being recited by inspirational speaker Danielle LaPorte (from Oprah’s “Super Soul Sunday”).
2020 saw the release of Bulby’s 3rd album Heartcrafted. The name is derived from the heart and soul he poured over the 17-track compilation. The artwork suggests that Bulby has let us into his world. Seated between 2 lionesses, he pensively sits as a king. The mountains of Jamaica can be seen in the background while exotic flowers Bird of Paradise are in the front. Let’s not leave out the flags of his birth nor the pair of black butterflies floating nearby.
Ranging in emotions from romantic to encouraging, fun and peaceful worship to exotic; these 17 tracks are worth playing from start to finish. Bulby takes us on a ride with some of your favorite Reggae/Dancehall artists. The remix of Maxi Priest’s “Easy to Love” features the voice of Stylo G. “You’re the reason that I dance in the rain” belts Anguillan songstress Deanna as she fights why she’s so in love...though it’s forbidden. Sizzla Kalonji answers “I want you as bad you want me and for us to be apart it just can’t be”. Alls fair in love and “Guerilla Warfare”. “Teenie Weenie”. Beres Hammond croons of how the teenie and tight is “enough to drive a man crazy”. Agent Sasco agrees that the loving and physique has him over the edge. Proud of their heritage, Kumar and Chino pay homage to the capital of Jamaica in “Kingston Town”. Proud Jamaicans everywhere will recognize this cover (originally by UB40) as an anthem. Over very familiar riddims (“Bam Bam” & “Street Sweet” [Steely & Cleevie]), the unstoppable Charly Black shares that he is “Stronger’. Malica has captivated Beenie “Zagga Zim Zimma” Man with her “Wiggle Wiggle”. Etana and Lutan Fyah cover Tracy Chapman’s “All That You Have is Your Soul” We’re all in this together...WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER. Get this...Jimmy Cliff and the 5-Star General Bounty Killer with Fire God Capleton. For the sake of “Humanity”, let’s spread light, peace and love through music. Who else can take the voice of Mr. Freddie “Big Ship” McGregor himself, and re-introduce us to Sir Winston Riley and his “Stagalag Riddim”? Bulby York. Reggae songbird Sanchez is giving all the praises to the Most High. Let the sweet melody and lyrics embrace you with “Love Wonderful Love No lyrics...just a vibe. Famed saxophonist Dean Fraser puts you in a “Sentimental Mood”. In a rare performance, Busy Signal sings! The steady beat of the drum sets the pace for a long night of lovemaking with Cecile in “Stay Home Tonight”..Straight from Guatemala! Latin artist, Billy the Diamond and popular Dancehall duo Tanto Metro & Devante can’t seem to figure out why they’re going crazy. Head-over-heels for her feminine wiles, they ask “How You a Gwaan So”. Rygin King (rising Dancehall artist) lends his vocals alongside Deanna in “Going Blind “Emergency”! There’s no love here; just straight positioning. Konshens and Tifa are in heat and there’s no extinguishing this flame. Grabba, check. Ganja, check. Water, check. Towel, check. Now start the track. After a quick introduction “Hi. Nice to meet you. The name’s Marcy…Marcy Chin.”, she and famous Soca star Skinny Fabulous just roll one up, bend it over and bang out a quickie. A hardcore f&^% fest. What else is needed but “Blunts and Backshots” for this eargasm? All hail the “Queen of the Ghetto”. Anthony Redrose pays homage to the hardworking woman who makes no excuse, just handles her business. “Money, money, money…the root of all evil” sings Horace Andy as Jahbar I enters on the beat drop. Why are you praising money as if it’s your God? You’re not who you used to be. Stressed out and losing your mind…for money. Totally gone insane…for money.
Answering the call for more “new old” riddims, Bulby York released the “Padang Padang Riddim” in Summer 2021. This EP debuted at #10 on the Reggae Billboard Chart. The riddim is a modernized twist on an unnamed riddim you have loved from before (think Steely & Clevie's - Admiral Bailey "Kill Them With It"). When asked ‘why is now the time for Bulby to release the riddim?’, Clevie stated "Steely (RIP) and I have always made music for the people. Bulby is the right person to continue our works." Bulby York, Steely & Clevie...modernize? Let's add Steven "Lenky" Marsden & The Firehouse Crew with live instruments! Featured on this 7-track energy fest are Christopher Martin, Admiral Bailey, Capleton, Jahbar I, Anthony Redrose, Busy Signal and Bling Dawg.
